Nirmala Carvalho

The Catholic mission commemorates a century of pastoral presence and service. A centre for education and healthcare open to people of all faiths in a region marked by conflict. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–48, it became a place of refuge for displaced people but was also the target of serious violence. Reduced to ruins, it was rebuilt with the help of the local communities: today it is a symbol of dialogue, education and care for thousands of people.

The measure was made official on 9 March, a few days after a delegation met with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The memorandum was also presented to opposition leader VD Satheesan. Now they will be able to enjoy benefits and concessions in line with those of other Christian groups. Local Catholic source of AsiaNews: a positive move, even if there are still some critical issues in these communities.

Harish Rana, 32, has been in a vegetative state for more than 10 years after falling from a building. The court ruling follows his parents' request to end essential life-sustaining treatment. For Archbishop Thakur, the word euthanasia is not used, but the ruling opens the door to the “right to die”.

Yesterday, in the final of the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, India beat New Zealand. Indian player Sanju Samson attributed his success to God. A key athlete and the player of the match, the Kerala wicket-keeper-batter was seen praying on his knees. Simple gestures can have profound meaning for the country's Christian minority.

Built around 1526, the protected structure is at the center of a legal dispute that has caused violence: Hindu petitioners claim it was built on top of a Shiva temple. The Archaeological Survey of India states that it has no documents on the state of the site prior to construction. The Central Information Commission has rejected the appeal.

With a reserved order, the court halted for “for 15 days” the film's premiere, today. Questions remain about the certification and classification of a work that presents an "unfiltered" reality. Of greatest concern are the repercussions at the community level, given the sensitive issues such as reconversions.

Originally from Kerala, he had travelled to the district of Ballia for a meeting with several families. Hindu nationalists accuse him of luring people with financial incentives, but the case is part of a wider context in which Bajrang Dal “vigilantes” are breaking into Christians' homes. Activist Dinanath Jaiswar of Alliance Defending Freedom India: “Attacks on the rise, fear in communities”.

Fr. Arisher Joseph, principal of St. Francis School in Khunta Kheda, was detained and released on bail after being physically assaulted following accusations of “inappropriate behavior” with students. But many parents of the school are defending him, claiming it is an attempt to discredit the Catholic institution. Bishop Jesuraj: “No one can take justice into their own hands; the incident must be properly investigated.”

A ruling has called for a halt to the forced exhumation of the bodies of tribal people who converted to Christianity, which often meets with opposition from villagers. Similar incidents have also occurred in Orissa, where a family was denied burial of their son in the village cemetery.

On the first day of Lent, a health camp was organised by the Xavier Institute of Social Research together with Kurji Holy Family Hospital, the Holy Cross Sisters and the Bihar Migrant Hub. Medical check-ups, maternal and child care and free distribution of medicines were offered to about 150 families. In Bihar, one in six inhabitants is a migrant.

After two years of presidential rule, the northeastern state is governed by an elected government. The appointment of Nemcha Kipgen, an ethnic Kuki, as deputy chief minister has sparked protests and strikes in the hill areas, where demands for a separate administration remain strong, reigniting tensions with the Meitei majority.

In Cuttack’s Indoor stadium, a large interfaith gathering brought together representatives of the Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, and Christian traditions to join in a call for “universal brotherhood”. For Archbishop John Barwa, “when faith communities stand together for truth, compassion, and the protection of human dignity, they become a transformative force for good.”